“Then build two of them and employ even more US Citizens. Or have the US manufacturer resubmit with a plane that can hold the adnl 20%.”
I’ve posted on this issue various times over the last several years. Each time I couldn’t get past that AIRBUS was the design that gave the best refueling capacity. I see it as a necessary Air Force program to keep warplanes fueled and in the air. Not a jobs program per se, but don’t the Northrop employees count ? As for Boeing resubmitting a new more competitive design, they had years to do just that, and SHOULD have. But they didn’t. Now times up, and USAF need the tankers.
“This plane will be built in France and flown to Alabama to have the decals put on”
From Northrop: “The KC-30 industrial team is committed to delivering an American military aircraft program, with tanker assembly and production taking place in Mobile, Alabama, and 58 percent of the aircraft, subsystems and support being provided by hundreds of American partners and suppliers. The KC-30 program will result in the in-sourcing of thousands of U.S aerospace jobs.”
As I said above, insinuations of treason are out of line. Boeing apparently didn’t design the best plane. Wishing punishment on the Air Force for Boeing for once not getting the contract is over the top. And generally absurd.
Northrop aircraft division employees are not unionized! Never been!
EADS and Boeing both submitted their proposals on the bid deadline of April 2007.
However Boeing dithered over which of their freighters (767, 777, or hypotheical 787) to turn into the bid tanker, only deciding on the 767 in February 2007
Meanwhile EADS had been building a 330 to the USAF specifications, flying it in September 2007.
Who looks keen, who looks lazy?